Remotely controllable receptacle system and managing method for operating the same

ABSTRACT

A remotely controllable receptacle system is disclosed. The remotely controllable receptacle system includes a remote control device for emitting a first request signal and a searching signal, and a plurality of receptacle devices for emitting a first reply signal according to the first request signal. The remote control device determines whether the first reply signal is received and the receptacle device emitting the first reply signal is classified as the vicinity receptacle device and the receptacle device not emitting the first reply signal is classified as the missing receptacle device. The vicinity receptacle device is configured to emit a second request signal according to the searching signal and determine whether the missing receptacle device emits a second reply signal according to the second request signal before a mutual communication between the remote control device and the missing receptacle device via the vicinity receptacle device is established.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a remotely controllable receptaclesystem and the managing method for operating the same. In particular,the present invention relates to remotely controllable receptacle systemthat is capable of remotely controlling the receptacle device viacomplementary transmission between the receptacle devices within thereceptacle system.

2. Description of Related Art

A conventional remotely controllable receptacle system is shown inFIG. 1. The remotely controllable receptacle system 1 includes a remotecontrol device 11 and a plurality of receptacle devices 13 a, 13 b, and13 c. The receptacle devices 13 a, 13 b, and 13 c could be in-wall or apower strip receptacle devices connecting with a power source forsupplying power to varied electronic equipments, and the remote controldevice 11 controls whether to connect the receptacle devices 13 a, 13 b,and 13 c to the power source.

The conventional remotely controllable receptacle system 1 enables amutual communication between the remote control device 11 and thereceptacle devices 13 a, 13 b and 13 c via wireless transmission.However, the remote control device 11 merely control the receptacledevice 13 a located within the transmission range of the wirelesstransmission. In other words, the distance between the remote controldevice 11 and the receptacle devices 13 a, 13 b, and 13 c may limit theapplication of the conventional remotely controllable receptacle system1. Plus, interferences such as obstacles and electromagneticinterferences may further undermine the usage of the conventionalremotely controllable receptacle system.

More specifically, when any one of the receptacle devices 13 a, 13 b and13 c is not within the transmission range, the remote control device 11may not control the operations of that particular receptacle devicewhile also lacking any knowledge of whether any receptacle device isunder control.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One objective of the present invention is to functionally extend theeffective transmission range of the remote control device.

The remotely controllable receptacle system includes a remote controldevice comprising a first wireless transceiver module for emitting afirst request signal and a searching signal, and a plurality ofreceptacle devices for emitting a first reply signal according to thefirst request signal wherein each receptacle device comprises a secondwireless transceiver module. The remote control device determineswhether the first reply signal is received and the receptacle deviceemitting the first reply signal is classified as the vicinity receptacledevice and the receptacle device not emitting the first reply signal isclassified as the missing receptacle device.

The vicinity receptacle device is configured to emit a second requestsignal according to the searching signal and determine whether themissing receptacle device emits a second reply signal according to thesecond request signal before a mutual communication between the remotecontrol device and the missing receptacle device via the vicinityreceptacle device is established.

In order to further understand the techniques, means and effects thepresent invention takes for achieving the prescribed objectives, thefollowing detailed descriptions and appended drawings are herebyreferred, such that, through which, the purposes, features and aspectsof the present invention can be thoroughly and concretely appreciated;however, the appended drawings are merely provided for reference andillustration, without any intention to be used for limiting the presentinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a conventional remotely controllablereceptacle system,

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a remotely controllable receptaclesystem in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the remotely controllablereceptacle system in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention,

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the remotely controllable receptaclesystem in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the remotely controllablereceptacle system in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention,

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a managing method of the remotelycontrollable receptacle system in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a managing method of the remotelycontrollable receptacle system in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a remotely controllable receptaclesystem in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

Throughout the disclosure, the remotely controllable receptacle system 2includes a remote control device 21 and a plurality of receptacledevices 23 a, 23 b, 23 c and 23 d. The remote control device 21configures an input unit 213 and a display unit 215 wherein the inputunit 213 could be a button, a knob or a touch panel, and the displayunit 215 could be a digital or needle display unit. In oneimplementation, the digital display unit 215 is a liquid crystal displaypanel. The pluralities of receptacle devices 23 a, 23 b, 23 c and 23 dhave power output units 231 a, 231 b, 231 c and 231 d, respectively. Inone implementation, the plurality of power output units 231 a, 231 b,231 c and 231 d are plug sockets.

The remote control device 21 could transmit and receive a signal and theremote control device 21 could monitor and control the pluralities ofreceptacle devices 23 a, 23 b, 23 c and 23 d located within atransmission range of the remote control device 21. Thus, the remotecontrol device 21 may control the operations of the receptacle devices23 a, 23 b, 23 c and 23 d so that the latter may deliver (or not todeliver) the required power to the electronic devices connected to thereceptacle devices 23 a, 23 b, 23 c, and 23 d. The remote control device21 may monitor the power consumption detected by the pluralities ofreceptacle devices 23 a, 23 b, 23 c and 23 d. The pluralities ofreceptacle devices 23 a, 23 b, 23 c and 23 d further detect the realtime overload, the voltage spike and the ambient temperature and reportthe detection result to the remote control device 21 immediately.

The pluralities of receptacle devices 23 a, 23 b, 23 c and 23 d are ableto communicate with each other. In on implementation, the pluralities ofreceptacle devices 23 a, 23 b, 23 c and 23 d emit a detection signalwhen they detect an abnormality and/or variation in the real timeoverload, the voltage spike, and/or the ambient temperature in order tominimize the power consumption of the mutual communication between theremote control device 21 and the pluralities of receptacle devices 23 a,23 b, 23 c and 23 d.

The remote control device 21 controls the operations of the receptacledevices 23 a, 23 b, 23 c and 23 d by analyzing the signals from thelatter. The remote control device 21 may also calculate the powerconsumption or carbon footprint and display the same on the display unit215.

In one implementation, the remote control device 21 may be move aroundso that the transmission range of the remote control device 21 maychange, causing one or more receptacle devices 23 a, 23 b, 23 c and 23 dto be outside the transmission range. When the receptacle device isoutside the transmission range of the remote control device 21, thatparticular receptacle device (e.g., the receptacle device 23 d) may beconsidered as the missing receptacle device and other receptacle devices(e.g., 23 a, 23 b, and 23 c) are considered as vicinity receptacledevices.

The remote control device 21 may communicate with the missing receptacledevice 23 d via one of the vicinity receptacle device 23 a, 23 b and 23c. For example, the vicinity receptacle 23 c may duplicate the signalfrom the missing receptacle device 23 d and relay the same to the remotecontrol device 21.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the remotely controllablereceptacle system in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

The remote control device 21 has a first processing unit 211, the inputunit 213, the display unit 215, a first wireless transceiver module 217,a memory unit 218 and a time unit 219. The pluralities of receptacledevices 23 a, 23 b, 23 c and 23 d have power output units 231 a, 231 b,231 c and 231 d, second processing units 232 a, 232 b, 232 c and 232 d,second wireless transceiver modules 233 a, 233 b, 233 c and 233 d,switch units 234 a, 234 b, 234 c and 234 d, surge protection units 235a, 235 b, 235 c and 235 d, power input units 236 a, 236 b, 236 c and 236d, and detection units 237 a, 237 b, 237 c and 237 d, respectively.

The first wireless transceiver module 217 may be controlled by the firstprocessing unit 211 before outputting a first wireless signal orreceives a second wireless signal from second wireless transceivermodules 233 a, 233 b, 233 c and 233 d. The first wireless transceivermodule 217 communicates with the second wireless transceiver modules 233a, 233 b, 233 c and 233 d via Bluetooth, Ultra Wide Band or RFIDtechnique.

The memory 218 could be a flash memory unit for storing a setupinformation and signal information. The setup information may includeelectricity fees, power consumption or carbon footprint. The signalinformation is associated with the power consumption corresponding tothe pluralities of receptacle device 23 a, 23 b, 23 c and 23 d that isdetected and transmitted by the second wireless signal. Additionally,the time unit 219 is configured to generate a time signal.

The power input units 236 a, 236 b, 236 c and 236 d is connected withcommercial power via an electric wire (not shown) and a plug (not shown)for delivering a power supply. The surge protection units 235 a, 235 b,235 c and 235 d may avoid the surge from damaging the electricalequipment connected with the pluralities of receptacle devices 23 a, 23b, 23 c and 23 d. The switch units 234 a, 234 b, 234 c and 234 d areconfigured to control the power output units 231 a, 231 b, 231 c and 231d according to the operation of the second processing units 232 a, 232b, 232 c and 232 d. The detection units 237 a, 237 b, 237 c and 237 dare configured to detect the overload, the voltage spike, and ambienttemperature according to the operation of the second processing units232 a, 232 b, 232 c and 232 d.

The second processing units 232 a, 232 b, 232 c and 232 d are configuredto control detection modes of the detection units 237 a, 237 b, 237 cand 237 d or control the operations of the switch units 234 a, 234 b,234 c and 234 d according to the first wireless signal received by thesecond wireless transceiver modules 233 a, 233 b, 233 c and 233 d. Thesecond wireless transceiver modules 233 a, 233 b, 233 c and 233 d, whichare controlled by the second processing units 232 a, 232 b, 232 c and232 d, are configured to further transmit the detection signal from thedetection units 237 a, 237 b, 237 c and 237 d.

The remote control device 21 may emit a first request signal to thepluralities of receptacle devices 23 a, 23 b, 23 c and 23 d in apredetermined sequence. In one implementation, the remote control device21 may emit the first request signal to the receptacle devices 23 a, 23b, 23 c, and 23 d in turn. The receptacle devices 23 a, 23 b, 23 c and23 d may emit a first reply signal according to the first requestsignal. The remote control device 21 determines whether the firstwireless transceiver 217 receives the first reply signal. If one of thereceptacle devices 23 a, 23 b, 23 c and 23 d does not respond to thefirst request signal with emitting the first reply signal, thatparticular receptacle device may be considered as the missing receptacledevice. Other receptacle devices that respond to the first requestsignal with emitting the first reply signal may be classified as thevicinity receptacles. Above classification for the missing receptacledevice and the vicinity receptacle device is temporarily stored in thememory unit 218.

If the receptacle device 23 d does not respond to the first replysignal, the remote control device 21 may emit a searching signal to thevicinity receptacle devices 23 a, 23 b and 23 c in turn. The vicinityreceptacle devices 23 a, 23 b and 23 c may search for the missingreceptacle device 23 d according to the searching signal. The process ofsearching for the missing receptacle device 23 d includes causing thevicinity receptacle devices 23 a, 23 b, and 23 c to emit a secondrequest signal according to the searching signal. If the missingreceptacle device 23 d is located within the effective transmissionrange of one of the vicinity receptacle devices 23 a, 23 b and 23 d, themissing receptacle device 23 d may emit a second reply signal accordingto the second request signal. Thereafter, when the vicinity receptacledevice 23 c receives the second reply signal, which is indicative oflocating the missing receptacle device 23 d has been accomplished, theremote control device 21 may stop emitting the searching signal for themissing receptacle device 23 d. Thus, the remote control device 21 maycommunicate with the missing receptacle 23 d via the vicinity receptacledevice 23 c.

When the detection unit 237 d of the missing receptacle device 23 ddetects an abnormality or variation in the real time overload, thevoltage spike, and/or the ambient temperature, the missing receptacledevice 23 d may emit a first detection signal. The vicinity receptacledevice 23 c may duplicate and modulate the first detection signal into asecond detection signal upon a receipt of the first detection signal,and delivers the second detection signal to the remote control device21. The first processing unit 211 may compare the second detectionsignal with the setup signal stored in the memory unit 217 beforegenerating a first judging signal.

The remote control device 21 may further emit a first command signalaccording to an operating command received from the input unit 213 orthe first judging signal from the first processing unit 211. Thevicinity receptacle device 23 c may duplicate and modulate the firstcommand signal into a second command signal and delivers the secondcommand signal to the missing receptacle device 23 d. The secondprocessing unit 232 d may control the switch unit 234 d by turningon/off the switch unit 234 d or setting a timer for the switch unit 234d according to the second command signal. Thereby, the remote controldevice 21 could control the missing receptacle device 23 d via thevicinity receptacle 23 c.

On the other hand, if the remote control device 21 does not determinewhether any receptacle device is the missing receptacle deviceproactively, the pluralities of receptacle device 23 a, 23 b, 23 c and23 d may communicate with the remote control device 21 by communicatingwith each other. More specifically, the pluralities of receptacledevices 23 a, 23 b, 23 c and 23 d may emit a third request signal to theremote control device 21 and determine whether any receptacle device isnot located in the effective transmission range of the remote controldevice 21 on basis of whether any receipt of a third reply signal fromthe remote control device 21.

If the receptacle device 23 d does not receive the third reply signal,the receptacle device 23 d may be classified as the missing receptacledevice, while the receptacle devices 23 a, 23 b and 23 c that do receivethe third reply signal from the remote control device 21 may beclassified as the vicinity receptacle devices.

The missing receptacle device 23 d may then search for the vicinityreceptacle devices 23 a, 23 b and 23 c by emitting a fourth requestsignal, and communicates with the remote control device 21 via one ofthe vicinity receptacle devices 23 a, 23 b and 23 c when one of thosevicinity receptacle devices 23 a, 23 b, and 23 c responds a fourth replysignal according to the fourth request signal. If the vicinityreceptacle 23 c.

The missing receptacle device 23 d may emit a third detection signalafter detecting an abnormality and/or variation in the real timeoverload, the voltage spike, and/or the ambient temperature. Thevicinity receptacle device 23 c relative to the missing receptacledevice 23 d may duplicate and modulate the third detection signal into afourth detection signal and transfers the fourth detection signal to theremote control signal 21. The first processing unit 211 may emit asecond judging signal by comparing the fourth detection signal with thesetup signal stored in the memory 218.

The remote control device 21 may emit a third command signal accordingto the operating command received by the input unit 213 or the secondjudging signal from the first processing unit 211. The vicinityreceptacle device 21 c may duplicate and/or modulate the third commandsignal into a fourth command signal and transfers the fourth commandsignal to the missing receptacle device 23 d in order to cause themissing receptacle device 23 d to turn on/off the switch unit 234 d.Thereby, the remote control device 21 may control the missing receptacledevice 23 d.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the remotely controllable receptaclesystem in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

The remotely controllable receptacle system 3 in FIG. 4 is similar tothe remotely controllable receptacle system 2 in FIG. 2 while the remotecontrol device 21 of the remotely controllable receptacle system 3further includes a network system 51. The network system 51 is atelephone system, a global position system, a personal computer orpersonal digital assistant. The remote control device 21 downloads andupdates the setup information via the network system 51. The pluralitiesof the receptacle devices 23 a, 23 b, 23 c and 23 d may be monitored andremotely controlled via the network system 51.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the remotely controllablereceptacle system in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

The remote control system 3 in FIG. 5 is similar to the remote controlsystem 2 in FIG. 3 while the remote control device 21 of the remotecontrol system 3 further includes a network module 216 connected withthe first processing unit 211. The remote control device 21 is connectedwith the network system 51 via the network module 216. In oneimplementation, the network module 216 is an Ethernet card.

In conjunction with FIG. 3, FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating amanaging method of the remotely controllable receptacle system inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

The remote control device 21 emits the first request signal to thepluralities of receptacle devices 23 a, 23 b, 23 c and 23 d (S601). Theremote control device 21 determines whether the pluralities ofreceptacle devices 23 a, 23 b, 23 c and 23 d respond with the firstreply signal (S603). If all receptacle devices 23 a, 23 b, 23 c and 23 drespond with the first reply signal to determine whether the receptacledevices are classified as the missing receptacle device. When allreceptacle devices 23 a, 23 b, 23 c, and 23 d respond to the firstrequest signal with the first reply signal, they could be monitored andremotely controlled by the remote control device 21 (S615).

If one of the pluralities receptacle devices 23 a, 23 b, 23 c and 23 d(such as the receptacle device 23 d) does not respond with the firstreply signal, the remote control device 21 classifies the receptacledevice 23 d as the missing receptacle device and the receptacle devices23 a, 23 b and 23 c as the vicinity receptacle devices (S605). Theremote control device 21 emits the searching signal to the vicinityreceptacle devices 23 a, 23 b, and 23 c in turn (S607). The vicinityreceptacle devices 23 a, 23 b and 23 c emit the second request signal tothe missing receptacle device 23 d and determine whether the missingreceptacle device 23 d responds to the second request signal with thesecond reply signal by determining whether the second reply signal isreceived (S609). If one of the receptacle devices 23 a, 23 b and 23 c(such as the receptacle device 23 c) receives the second reply signal,which is indicative of that the receptacle device 23 d is located, theremote control device 21 stops emitting the searching signal. If allreceptacle devices 23 a, 23 b and 23 c do not receive the second replysignal, the remote control device 21 may cause the remotely controllablereceptacle systems 2 and 3 to be reset by issuing a warning tooperators.

After the remote control device 21 establishing the communication withthe missing receptacle device 23 d, the remote control device 21 emitsthe first command signal to the vicinity receptacle device 23 c (S611).The vicinity receptacle device 23 c duplicates and modulates the firstcommand signal into the second command signal and delivers the secondcommand signal to the missing receptacle device 23 d (S613). The remotecontrol device 21 also controls the operations of the vicinityreceptacle devices 23 a, 23 b and 23 c.

In conjunction with FIG. 3, FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating amanaging method of the remotely controllable receptacle system inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

When the remote control device 21 does not proactively determine whetherany receptacle device is classified as the missing receptacle device.The receptacle device 23 a, 23 b, 23 c and 23 d may communicate with theremote control device 21 by mutually communicating with each other. Thereceptacle devices 23 a, 23 b, 23 c and 23 d emit the third requestsignal to the remote control device 21 (S701). The receptacle devices 23a, 23 b, 23 c and 23 d determine whether the third reply signal from theremote control device 21 is received (S703) (i.e., the receptacledevices 23 a, 23 b, 23 c, and 23 d are within the effective transmissionrange of the remote control device 21). If all receptacle devices 23 a,23 b, 23 c and 23 d receive the third reply signal, the remote controldevice 21 may in turn monitor and remotely control the receptacledevices 23 a, 23 b, 23 c and 23 d (S715).

If one receptacle device (such as the receptacle device 23 d) does notreceive the third reply signal, the receptacle devices 23 a, 23 b, and23 c may be classified as the vicinity receptacle device while thereceptacle device 23 d is classified as the missing receptacle device(S705). The receptacle device 23 d emits the fourth request signal tothe vicinity receptacle devices 23 a, 23 b and 23 c to search whichvicinity receptacle device may be capable of communicating with themissing receptacle device 23 d (S707). The missing receptacle device 23d determines whether the fourth reply signal from the vicinityreceptacle devices 23 a, 23 b and 23 c is received (S709). If one of thevicinity receptacle devices 23 a, 23 b and 23 c (such as the vicinityreceptacle device 23 c) emits the fourth reply signal that is receivedby the missing receptacle device 23 d, the missing receptacle device 23d stops emitting the fourth request signal. Thereby, the missingreceptacle device 23 d may communicate with the vicinity receptacledevice 23 c and the remote control device 21.

The missing receptacle device 23 d emits the third detection signal tothe vicinity receptacle device 23 c (S711). The vicinity receptacledevice 23 c duplicates and modulates the third detection signal into thefourth detection signal and delivers the fourth detection signal to theremote control device 21 (S713). The remote control device 21 monitorsand remotely controls the missing receptacle device 23 d according tothe fourth detection signal.

To sum up, the present invention utilizes mutually communication betweenthe receptacle devices to extend the effective transmission range of theremote control device.

What are disclosed above are only the specification and the drawings ofthe preferred embodiment of the present invention and it is thereforenot intended that the present invention be limited to the particularembodiment disclosed. It will be understood by those skilled in the artthat various equivalent changes may be made depending on thespecification and the drawings of the present invention withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A managing method adapted for a remotelycontrollable receptacle system having a remote control device and aplurality of receptacle devices, the managing method comprising:emitting a first request signal to the receptacle devices by the remotecontrol device; determining whether the receptacle devices respond afirst reply signal according to the first request signal to the remotecontrol device by the remote control device; classifying the receptacledevice responding the first reply signal as a vicinity receptacle deviceand the receptacle device not responding the first reply signal as amissing receptacle device; emitting a searching signal to the vicinityreceptacle device by the remote control device; searching for themissing receptacle device according to the searching signal by thevicinity receptacle device; and monitoring the missing receptacle devicevia the vicinity receptacle device by the remote control device.
 2. Themanaging method as claimed in claim 1, wherein searching for the missingreceptacle device further comprises: emitting a second request signal tothe missing receptacle device according to the searching signal by thevicinity receptacle device; and determining whether a second replysignal from the missing receptacle device is received by the vicinityreceptacle device.
 3. The managing method as claimed in claim 2, furthercomprising monitoring the missing receptacle device via the vicinityreceptacle device receiving the second reply signal by the remotecontrol device.
 4. The managing method as claimed in claim 3, furthercomprising: emitting a first detection signal to the vicinity receptacledevice by the missing receptacle device; and emitting a second detectionsignal according to the first detection signal to the remote controldevice by the vicinity receptacle device.
 5. The managing managingmethod as claimed in claim 3, further comprising: emitting a firstcommand signal to the vicinity receptacle device by the remote controldevice; and emitting a second command signal according to the firstcommand signal to the missing receptacle device by the vicinityreceptacle device.
 6. A remotely controllable receptacle system,comprising: a remote control device comprising a first wirelesstransceiver module for emitting a first request signal and a searchingsignal; and a plurality of receptacle devices for emitting a first replysignal according to the first request signal wherein each receptacledevice comprises a second wireless transceiver module; wherein theremote control device determines whether the first reply signal isreceived and the receptacle device emitting the first reply signal isclassified as the vicinity receptacle device and the receptacle devicenot emitting the first reply signal is classified as the missingreceptacle device; wherein the vicinity receptacle device is configuredto emit a second request signal according to the searching signal anddetermine whether the missing receptacle device emits a second replysignal according to the second request signal before a mutualcommunication between the remote control device and the missingreceptacle device via the vicinity receptacle device is established. 7.The remotely controllable receptacle system as claimed in claim 6,wherein each receptacle device comprises a detection unit wherein thedetection unit is configured to detect electric power cost informationand emit a first detection signal via the second wireless transceivermodule.
 8. The remotely controllable receptacle system as claimed inclaim 7, wherein the vicinity receptacle device searching for themissing receptacle device is configured to emit a second detectionsignal according to the first detection signal.
 9. The remotelycontrollable receptacle system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the remotecontrol device further emits a first command signal to the vicinityreceptacle searching for the missing receptacle device.
 10. The remotelycontrollable receptacle system as claimed in claim 9, wherein thevicinity receptacle device searching for the missing receptacle deviceis further configured to emit a second command signal according to thefirst command signal to the missing receptacle device.
 11. The remotelycontrollable receptacle system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the firstwireless transceiver module communicates with the second wirelesstransceiver modules via Bluetooth, Ultra Wide Band or RFID technique.12. The remotely controllable receptacle system as claimed in claim 6,wherein the remote control device further includes an Ethernet card, theremote control device connects to a network system via the Ethernetcard.